Asylum Appeals

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many asylum appeals have been received by the Appeals Support Section of the Immigration and Nationality Department since the beginning of 2000 to the latest convenient date; how many have been sent to the Immigration Appellate Authority over the same period; what is the average length of time between these events; and whether they have established any target for this interval.

Lord Rooker: Provisional data indicate that between January 2000 and April 2001, 88,005 asylum appeals have been received by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) and in the same period 43,040 appeals have been passed to the Immigration Appellate Authority (IAA). The date on which appeals are received in the Appeals Support Section is not recorded by data from the IAA's IRIS database indicate that for the year ending March 2001 the average time from receipt of an asylum appeal in IND (which will not necessarily be the same as the date of its receipt in ASS) to receipt in the IAA was seven weeks. No formal target has been set for the time in which appeals should be sent from IND to the IAA.

Employment Tribunals: Legal Aid

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Chancellor on 3 May (WA 295), what are the criteria for deciding whether a case is "complex" so as to make it appropriate and necessary for him to exercise the power under Section 6(8)(b) of the Access to Justice Act 1999 to authorise funding for representation in a case brought before an employment tribunal.

Lord Irvine of Lairg: My guidance to the Legal Services Commission sets out the circumstances in which I would be prepared to consider an application for exceptional funding in any area of work or forum where public funding was not normally available. That guidance is published in the Legal Services Commission Manual. For representation before tribunals, the criteria are:
	(a) the client would have to be financially eligible for funded representation;
	(b) the case would have to pass all the relevant criteria in the General Funding Code; and either involve a significant wider public interest or have overwhelming importance (affecting the life, liberty or physical safety of the client or his or her immediate family or the roof over their heads) to the client (or clients) seeking funding; and
	(c) there would have to be convincing evidence that, given the procedures and other arrangements in the court or tribunal concerned, legal representation was the only adequate way of establishing the facts and presenting the case; and that no alternative means of funding that representation was available; so that taking these factors together, and having regard to our obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights, it was essential to provide public funding for representation in order to serve the interests of justice.

Employment Tribunals: Legal Aid

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Chancellor on 3 May (WA 295), what are the differences between legal proceedings before employment tribunals in Scotland and in England and Wales which justify the provision of limited legal aid for representation in proceedings in Scotland but less favourable provision for representation in proceedings in England and Wales.

Lord Irvine of Lairg: There are no material differences between employment tribunals in Scotland and in England and Wales. The Government have no plans to make any changes to the provision of public funding for representation before employment tribunals in England and Wales. We will consider any recommendations that Sir Andrew Leggatt may make in his review of tribunals.

Employment Tribunals: Legal Aid

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Chancellor on 3 May (WA 295), whether they consider that the difference of treatment in providing legal aid for representation in proceedings before employment tribunals in Scotland and in England and Wales is compatible with Article 6 and Article 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights; and, if so, what are their reasons for this opinion.

Lord Irvine of Lairg: I am confident that the public funding in England and Wales is fully compliant with all articles of the European Convention on Human Rights. Although employment tribunals are excluded from scope, I have the power under Section 6(8)(b) of the Access to Justice Act 1999 to authorise funding in exceptional cases where the Legal Services Commission asks me to do so.

Teaching Professionals: Salaries

Lord Shore of Stepney: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In each year since 1996, what has been:
	(a) the increase in national average earnings; and
	(b) the increase in the earnings of (i) a secondary school teacher with five years' experience, and (ii) a university lecturer; and what has been the increase in the cost of living during those years.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
	Letter from the National Statistician Len Cook, dated 27 June 2001.
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question about increases in: (a) national average earnings; (b) the earnings of secondary school teachers with five years experience and of university lecturers; and (c) the cost of living in each year since 1996 (HL51).
	The tables attached provide the requested information, drawing upon the Average Earnings Index, the New Earnings Survey (NES) and the Retail Prices Index. The percentage change on year has been provided back to 1996.
	The NES, which was used to provide information on earnings by occupation, does not collect information about the duration of workers' experience. It is therefore not possible to give the increase in earnings for secondary school teachers with 5 years experience. We have, however, provided data for all secondary school teaching professionals regardless of experience. 2001 Data for the NES is not yet available.
	
		Change in National Average Earnings
		
			  Percentage change on year 
			 April 1996 3.4 
			 April 1997 3.8 
			 April 1998 5.9 
			 April 1999 4.1 
			 April 2000 4.6 
			 April 2001 4.7 
		
	
	Source:
	Average Earnings Index, Great Britain, seasonally adjusted.
	Whole economy: percentage change on year.
	Index 1995 = 100.
	
		Change in Earnings of Teaching Professionals
		
			  Percentage change on year in  average weekly pay 
			  University and polytechnic teaching professionals Secondary education teaching professionals (1) 
			 April 1996 -0.1 2.7 
			 April 1997 5.6 3.2 
			 April 1998 3.2 2.5 
			 April 1999 2.0 4.9 
			 April 2000 2.9 3.8 
		
	
	Source:
	New Earnings survey, Great Britain, not seasonally adjusted.
	Full-time employees on adult rates, whose pay for the survey pay-period was unaffected by absence.
	(1) For all secondary education teaching professionals, regardless of experience.
	
		Change in Cost of Living
		
			  Percentage change on year 
			 April 1996 2.4 
			 April 1997 2.4 
			 April 1998 4.0 
			 April 1999 1.6 
			 April 2000 3.0 
			 April 2001 1.8 
		
	
	Source:
	Retail Prices Index, United Kingdom, not seasonally adjusted.
	Retail Prices Index (All items) pecentage change on year.

British Industry: Euro Exchange Rate

Lord Shore of Stepney: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What measures they propose to take to alleviate the damage to British industry caused by the weak exchange rate of the euro.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The Government attach great importance to creating a positive environment for businesses to start, grow and succeed. The most fundamental contribution that the Government can make is through establishing a platform of economic stability. The Government achieved this by making major reforms to the macroeconomic framework in the last Parliament. The Government have also taken numerous steps to strengthen the environment for enterprise, innovation and competition more directly. The most recent measures were announced jointly on 18 June by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and the Secretary of State for Education and Skills.

UAE Flights: Illicit Arms

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What measures they have taken, either through the United Nations Security Council or otherwise, to persuade the authorities in the United Arab Emirates to withdraw permission to operate flights from Sharjah and elsewhere in the United Arab Emirates of aircraft owned by companies which are alleged, in the reports of the United Nations Expert Panel on Sierra Leone and the Monitoring Mechanism on Angola Sanctions, to be engaged in deliveries of illicit arms.

Baroness Amos: The Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Peter Hain, raised this issue with the UAE Authorities during his visit to the UAE in October 2000. He subsequently wrote to His Highness Shaikh Mohammed Bin Zayed, Chief of Staff of the UAE Armed Forces, to register concern that Victor Butt, named by the UN Expert Panel on Sierra Leone and the Monitoring Mechanism Report on Angola for his involvement in illegal supplies to Liberia and Sierra Leone in breach of UN Sanctions, is using the UAE as a base for his Africa sanctions busting operations. Our Ambassador to the UAE also raised these concerns in January 2001 with His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, Ruler of Sharjah. The Chairman of the UN Angola Sanctions Committee has also raised the issue with the UAE Ambassador in New York on several occasions.

ECHR: Resources

Lord Judd: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What action they are taking to ensure that the European Human Rights Court in Strasbourg has at its disposal the human and financial resources to discharge its mission fully in spirit as well as in letter.

Baroness Amos: Her Majesty's Government are actively supporting the work of the Evaluation Group which has been tasked with considering all potential means which would guarantee the continued effectiveness of the Court in the face of the rapid growth in the number of applications to it. Her Majesty's Government are open to considering all recommendations which the group may put forward, provided that they ensure the maintenance of the ECHR's unique role in ensuring a common European minimum standard in the human rights field and do not undermine the right of individual petition to the Court.

Iraq: Wassenaar Arrangement

Lord Clarke of Hampstead: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether any goods controlled by the Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls for Conventional Arms and Dual Use Goods and Technologies were approved for export to Iraq in 2000.

Baroness Amos: Following consultation with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Ministry of Defence, the Department of Trade and Industry approved on 21 July 2000 a licence to export spare parts for use in Iraq's electricity sector under the UN Oil for Food programme. The spare parts included a roller bearing, which is controlled by the Wassenaar Arrangement. The export of the goods to Iraq was approved by the UN Sanctions Committee in line with existing Security Council resolutions. The announcement of this export is in line with the Government's commitment to increasing transparency in the field of export controls.

Turkey: Human Rights

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 19 February (WA 77), whether they have received further information from the Government of Turkey, following their inquiries of 13 February concerning the disappearance of Mr Sardar Tanis and Mr Ebubekir Deniz, officials of the HADEP political party in Silopi; and, if so, in what terms.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: We have not received any further substantive information on this case since we raised it with the Turkish authorities on 13 February. We continue to monitor this and other such cases, which have worrying implications for democratic pluralism and freedom of expression in Turkey. Turkey's National Programme for the Adoption of the Acquis sets out the measures which the Turkish Government are putting in place to enhance freedom of thought in Turkey; we look forward to their rapid implementation.

Turkey: Human Rights

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they consider that the disappearances of HADEP officials from Silopi, the attempted murder of Mr Selahattin Oge by security forces and the arrest on 1 and 2 April of eight HADEP members in Cizre constitute a pattern of violence and repression directed against a legal political party; whether they have made representations to the Turkish Government; and, if so, with what result.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: We remain concerned about alleged harassment of HADEP members and supporters. We regularly raise individual cases with the Turkish authorities. Such cases have worrying implications for democratic pluralism and freedom of expression in Turkey. Turkey's National Programme for the Adoption of the Acquis sets out the measures which the Turkish Government are putting in place to enhance freedom of expression in Turkey; we look forward to their rapid implementation.

Turkey: Human Rights

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 23 April (WA 182), whether they received a substantive response from the Government of Turkey to their demarche of 23 March concerning alleged rape and torture of 19 women in police custody.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: We have not received a substantive response from the Turkish authorities to our demarche of 23 March concerning the case of the 18 women and one man arrested after a conference in Istanbul where they made allegations about torture and rape in police custody. We continue to follow the case closely; our Consulate-General in Istanbul attended hearings on 21 March and 21 June. It has now been adjourned to 18 October. We remain concerned at the continued incidence of torture in Turkey and the implications of this case for freedom of expression in Turkey.

Foot and Mouth: Vaccination Policy

Lord Greaves: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the latest scientific advice they have received on the desirability of introducing a policy of vaccination against foot and mouth disease

Lord Whitty: The Government's Chief Scientific Adviser and Chief Veterinary Officer advised in favour of vaccinating cattle in North Cumbria, and possibly Devon, on 18 April 2001, provided there was substantial support for the campaign from farmers, veterinarians, consumers and the food trade. It became clear that that level of support was not present.
	Vaccination policy is kept under continuous review but our advisers have not made any other recommendations for a vaccination campaign.

Sheep Movement

Lord Greaves: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What advice is currently being given to farmers in the Lake District and other upland areas in relation to bringing down sheep for shearing, dipping and tupping.

Lord Whitty: Such movements are already permitted using multi-occupancy licences where flock owners can bring their animals down together provided they agree that such flocks are then treated in the event of a disease outbreak as one unit. Further guidance on other movements from common grazing is being considered but its key objective will be to keep the risk of transmission of disease to a minimum.

Sheep: Survival of Fell Breeds

Lord Greaves: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their current policy to ensure the survival of Herdwicks and other fell breeds of sheep in the English Lake District.

Lord Whitty: We have introduced a measure for hefted flocks such as Herdwicks and rare breeds of sheep which may be exempted from contiguous culls. This is provided that they test negative for antibodies to foot and mouth disease and that the level of biosecurity for hefted sheep is judged sufficient to make the risk of transmission small. We have facilitated the movement of moorland sheep from winter grazing to summer grazing land. We have contributed to the establishment of the heritage gene bank to ensure the retention of genes of sheep breeds indigenous to the UK.

Equality: Policy Co-ordination

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which Ministers and which government department or departments have responsibility for co-ordinating the reform of anti-discrimination legislation.

Baroness Morgan of Huyton: The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, the Home Secretary and the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions each have responsibility for specific aspects of equality policy. Co-ordination of equality issues will be handled by a Cabinet Committee.

Equality: UN Convention

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they accept that measures to promote equality of opportunity between men and women and to eliminate sex discrimination against women in political and public life must, to comply with the United Nations Convention on Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, be (in the words of Article 4.1 of that Convention) "temporary special measures aimed at accelerating de facto equality between men and women" and "in no way entail as a consequence the maintenance of inequality and separate standards".

Baroness Morgan of Huyton: The Government intend that any measures introduced to promote equality of opportunty between men and women will be compliant with the United Kingdom's international obligations.